Americans United - Creationism & Evolutionhttps://blog.au.org/issues/creationism-evolution
Creationism is a religious belief concerning the origins of the Earth and humankind, based on a literal reading of the Bible and other religious texts. It does not belong in public school science classes. Furthermore, public schools should not be precluded from teaching evolution, which is accepted by the vast majority of the scientific community, simply because some people object to it on theological grounds.
enFundamentally Extremehttps://blog.au.org/church-state/march-2015-church-state/viewpoint/fundamentally-extreme
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p><em>By Rev. Dr. Rollin O. Russell</em></p><p> </p><p>Far-right fundamentalist Christians have their own version of American history as well as of human history and the cosmos, facts and science to the contrary not withstanding. Both are being pushed zealously by the Religious Right, and most Americans are unaware of the strange ideology that motivates these efforts. Here is the back story.</p><p>The founders of the New England colonies were non-conformist Protestants escaping the religious and civil tyranny exercised by the combined dominance of the British crown and the Anglican Church. </p><p>It is sad to note how quickly they established their own brand of religious intolerance once they were in control on these shores. These Puritan dissenters closely adhered to scripture but were “benign literalists” in that they used a very wide variety of interpretive styles while assuming the scriptures’ essential truth. They did not, however, believe in the “literal inerrancy” of the Bible in which every word and phrase had to be accepted as God-inspired and infallible truth. That doctrine came much later, and the story of its development is central to our current dramatic political and religious divisions.</p><p>The framers of the U.S. Constitution, 150 years after the first colonies were established, had seen quite enough of religious entanglement and domination in government. They still smarted from the historic religious persecution and from fines and confiscation of their own property in old England, and they were frustrated by government favors and support of dominant religious groups in New England and Virginia. </p><p>Hence, they specifically and intentionally made the first clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution a guarantee of the division between government and religion. As Thomas Jefferson put it in his 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists, there is a “wall of separation between church and state.” </p><p>In addition, the letter of George Washington to Touro Synagogue in Newport, R.I. (1780), and James Madison’s 1785 “Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments” make the Founders’ insistence on the separation of religion and government very clear. </p><p>Thus, some leading <em>colonial-era </em>figures can be seen as evangelical Protestants seeking to establish a Christian nation, but the founders of the <em>revolutionary era</em>, who came many years later, most assuredly were not. Evangelical claims to the contrary are pure fiction.</p><p>Evangelical Protestantism continued to be culturally dominant for another century before it came apart at the seams. Charles Darwin’s <em>On the Origin of the Species </em>was published in England in 1859 but was not initially broadly noticed in America. The nation’s focus was on the chaos created by the Fugitive Slave Act, the fracturing of the country over slavery and abolition and the eventual Civil War.</p><p>Darwin’s theory was noted in academic faculties of biology and theology, in most cases with fascinated openness, but it went largely unnoticed in popular culture. In the decades following the war, however, evolution became a major issue.</p><p>Clearly, the Genesis story of creation in six days, a generally assumed historical account, could not be taken literally if evolution was accepted. Biology was liberated; theology, however, was plunged into controversy. Some religious leaders embraced Darwin’s theory and saw that it opened a new theological perspective on the planet’s origins and on any understanding of the Creator. In 1885, Henry Ward Beecher, probably the most notable preacher of his day, published <em>Evolution and Religion, </em>in which he extolled the new theory and declared it entirely compatible with religion. </p><p>Others reacted with alarm. In their eyes, if one cannot accept the literal and historical accuracy of the Genesis story, it calls the truth of the entire Bible into question. It appeared to be a slippery slope to unbelief, and the more the literalists defended the Bible against evolution, the louder they proclaimed its literal inerrancy. </p><p>The year 1910 was a turning point. That year, conservative Christian leaders began publishing a series of essays called <em>The Fundamentals</em>, which were sent to churches nationwide. <em>The Fundamentals</em> strongly argued that Christians must believe that the Bible is “entirely inerrant.” The separation of the two theological perspectives – one embracing evolution as liberating for theology and the other rejecting it as false and atheistic – has continued to the present.</p><p>The origin of today’s fundamentalist church bodies and their phalanx of non-profit advocacy organizations can be traced to that late 19th and early 20th century controversy. </p><p>One particular branch has led the attack on the teaching of evolution: millennialists. The members of millennialist church groups anxiously and eagerly await the second coming of Christ on the clouds of heaven at the end of history when the dead will be raised and God’s reign established. They reason (quite rightly) that if people stop believing in a miraculous six-day creation, they might also give up belief in a miraculous, apocalyptic end to history through divine intervention and Christ’s return.</p><p>The more that fundamentalists insisted on scriptural inerrancy and its historical accuracy, the more they came to embrace the prophecy of the apocalypse. <em>The</em> <em>Fundamentals</em> also argued for Jesus’ “bodily return to rule and to judge.”</p><p>In addition, if these events, so graphically described in the Bible, are rejected, then the rigid, male-dominant “divine order” of family and society would also be in jeopardy. What was and is at stake for fundamentalists theologically is their biblical literalism, chiefly their peculiar dogmas of a literal six-day creation, male dominance and the divine social order and the redemption of the righteous at Jesus’ return. What is at stake personally is their children’s faith in those dogmas. </p><p>So, they attack and seek to undermine the public schools where their children are taught the full spectrum of biology, including evolution, as well as a view of human history, U. S. history and democratic society that fundamentalists reject.</p><p>They advocate, rather, for vouchers for children to attend non-public schools or be home schooled using curricula that reflect their own contrary views. They also have succeeded in promoting charter schools, some of which teach these ideological versions of creation, history and social order. </p><p>So, why are these science-denying, history contorting fundamentalists so seemingly successful? They have entered an unholy alliance with political conservatives who also resist every sign of movement toward a multi-racial, multi-cultural nation that honors its commitment to equality. It is hard to imagine conservative high rollers knocking on doors in a political campaign, much less ascribing to the fundamentalists’ theology. But, the religious fundamentalists don’t mind those efforts at all; it’s their <em>modus operandi.</em></p><p>Together the two have advocated their false history of a Christian America as a rationale for their ideology. They correctly see the First Amendment’s separation of church and state as a huge impediment to that claim, so they deny its clear meaning. </p><p>Fundamentalist celebrity historian David Barton has been accused of distorting the views of Jefferson. His books have been condemned by academic historians, and one was withdrawn by its publisher, so contrived are his assertions. The Religious Right has also attempted to resurrect the 19th Century doctrine of America’s “manifest destiny” from the dustbin of history in the form of “American exceptionalism.” It is new terminology with which to justify their latter- day xenophobic, hyper-nationalism. </p><p>This religious-political right-wing coalition has attracted many people who resist and/or are frightened by society’s rapid change and who affirm some or all of their literalist religion. Sufficient political power has been gained in some states and in Congress that they are now proceeding to enact their regressive views, impose them on the rest of us and have us pay for them with our taxes. Their policies are resulting in the undermining of public education, rolling back hard-won rights for women and minorities and seeking privileged treatment for themselves and their financial backers. </p><p>Their agenda constitutes a frontal assault on historic values of our nation, and particularly on the First Amendment.</p><p>But, there is good news: Rigid dogmatism can and usually does eventually collapse of its own self-evident hollowness. We should nudge the process along by unmasking its falsehoods.</p><p> </p><p><em style="font-size: 12px;">The Rev. Dr. Rollin O. Russell i</em><span style="font-size: 12px;">s</span><em style="font-size: 12px;"> president of the Orange-Durham, N.C., Chapter of Am­eri­cans United.</em></p></div></div><h3 >How A Series Of Pamphlets Led To The Evolution Of The Religious Right In&nbsp;America</h3><div class="field field-name-field-cs-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Viewpoint</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/creationism-evolution">Creationism &amp; Evolution</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/descriptions-and-activities-religious-right-groups">Descriptions and Activities of Religious Right Groups</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/responding-common-attacks-church-state-separation">Responding to Common Attacks on Church-State Separation</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/history-and-origins-church-state-separation">History and Origins of Church-State Separation</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-issue field-type-node-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Magazine Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><article id="node-10903" class="node node-church-state-issue clearfix">
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<h2><a href="/church-state/march-2015-church-state">
The <span class="cs-month field">March</span> <span class="cs-year field"><span class="date-display-single">2015</span></span> issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/march-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/scientologist-drug-education-enters-ny-public">Scientologist Drug Education Enters N.Y. Public Schools</a></span> </div></li>
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</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/thomas-jefferson">thomas jefferson</a></span></div></div>Mon, 02 Mar 2015 15:15:00 +0000Timothy Ritz10907 at https://blog.au.orghttps://blog.au.org/church-state/march-2015-church-state/viewpoint/fundamentally-extreme#commentsS.D. Creationism Bill Dies In Committeehttps://blog.au.org/church-state/march-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/sd-creationism-bill-dies-in-committee
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>A South Dakota state senator’s bill that would have permitted the teaching of creationism and “intelligent design” in public school classrooms has died.</p><p>Marketed as an “academic freedom” bill, Sen. Jeff Monroe’s proposal would have prohibited local school boards from penalizing any teacher who decided to assist students “understand, analyze, critique, or review in an objective man­ner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories.”</p><p>The bill was rejected by the Senate Education Committee Feb. 10.</p><p>Monroe, a Pierre Republican, insisted that the bill was merely intended to spark classroom debate on the topic of the world’s origins and was not intended to promote creationism at the expense of sound scientific education.</p><p>Opponents were skeptical. They noted that the proposal was based on a model policy designed by the Discovery Institute, a neo-creationist outfit that often promotes intelligent design.</p><p>The National Center for Science Education’s Glenn Branch said that the bill would have extended protection to educators teaching creationism.</p><p>“It provides cover for, as you might say, rogue teachers,” Branch said. “We know most teachers won’t do this, but we know that there are some.”</p></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">AU Bulletin</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/creationism-evolution">Creationism &amp; Evolution</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-issue field-type-node-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Magazine Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><article id="node-10903" class="node node-church-state-issue clearfix">
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<h2><a href="/church-state/march-2015-church-state">
The <span class="cs-month field">March</span> <span class="cs-year field"><span class="date-display-single">2015</span></span> issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/march-2015-church-state/people-events/residents-of-la-town-hold-rally-calling-for">Residents Of La. Town Hold Rally Calling For Official School Prayer </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/march-2015-church-state/people-events/la-governor-speaks-at-religious-right-hosted">La. Governor Speaks At Religious Right-Hosted Evangelical Prayer Rally </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/march-2015-church-state/people-events/ala-chief-justice-urges-defiance-of-same-sex">Ala. Chief Justice Urges Defiance Of Same-Sex Marriage Ruling</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/march-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/sd-creationism-bill-dies-in-committee">S.D. Creationism Bill Dies In Committee</a></span> </div></li>
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</div></div></div>Mon, 02 Mar 2015 15:15:00 +0000Timothy Ritz10914 at https://blog.au.orghttps://blog.au.org/church-state/march-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/sd-creationism-bill-dies-in-committee#commentsWishy-Washy Walker: Wisc. Governor Refuses To Answer Question On Evolutionhttps://blog.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/wishy-washy-walker-wisc-governor-refuses-to-answer-question-on-evolution
<a href="/about/people/simon-brown">Simon Brown</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">It’s unfortunate that this issue is considered controversial in America. Evolution is settled science and should be taught without apology in our public schools. But as long as misguided lawmakers keep working to undermine the concept and water down instruction about it in schools, legislators will have a role to play.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Today is Darwin Day, which some people observe in order to celebrate Charles Darwin’s contributions to science. So this seems like a good opportunity to remind everyone that even 156 years after the publication of <em>On the Origin of Species</em>, some politicians are still struggling with the concept of evolution – and trying to force creationism into public schools.</p><p>Earlier this week, probable GOP presidential candidate and current Wisconsin governor Scott Walker was asked during a discussion at a British think tank whether or not he believes in evolution. He <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/11/scott-walker-dodges-question-on-whether-he-believes-in-evolution_n_6663218.html">didn’t even try</a> to give a thoughtful answer.</p><p>“For me, I am going to punt on that one as well,” Walker said. “That’s a question politicians shouldn’t be involved in one way or another. I am going to leave that up to you. I'm here to talk about trade, not to pontificate about evolution.”</p><p>This isn’t a surprise. During the preliminary scramble for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/24/2012-election-gop-candidates-evolution-_n_934045.html">just two candidates</a>, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and eventual nominee Mitt Romney, admitted that they believe firmly in evolution.</p><p>It’s worth noting that both Huntsman and Romney have strong religious beliefs (both are Mormon), and yet they seemed to have found a way to reconcile God with evolution. That brings us to the first problem with Walker’s statement.</p><p>Walker likely did not want to answer because he knows that denying evolution will earn him some serious media mockery, while professing belief in evolution will alienate the Religious Right – a group he would need in order to win the White House in 2016.</p><p>But one of the logical fallacies among those who champion creationism is their belief that religion and science must be perpetually at war. <a href="https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/slamming-science-pat-robertson-claims-evolution-is-to-blame-for-lack-of">It simply isn’t true</a>. For example, Jeff Hardin, chair of the zoology department at the University of Wisconsin, identifies as an evangelical Christian. He also believes strongly in evolution and tries to explain to his fellow Christians that they, too, can embrace both God and science.</p><p>Hardin isn’t alone. Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, and Cambridge University molecular biologist Denis Alexander both think the Bible and scientific facts can coexist.</p><p>So in reality, there is no truth to the argument that everyone who believes in evolution must also hate religion. </p><p>The second problem with Walker’s statement is one of naiveté if he actually believes that politicians should stay out of the creationism/evolution debate. Political leaders have a lot to say about education policy, after all.</p><p>Many far-right lawmakers meddle in this issue constantly. Just this week, <a href="http://www.evolutionnews.org/2015/02/south_dakota_ac093421.html">a South Dakota bill backed by the Discovery Institute</a>, which is a Seattle-based group that has attempted to undermine evolution since 1991, died in the South Dakota Senate Education Committee.</p><p>The legislation was marketed as an “academic freedom bill,” but in reality it would have opened the door for teachers to freely attack evolution and teach creationism in public schools. While it would not mandate the teaching of creationism or even specify equal time for both creationism and evolution, it would have ultimately led to more religion being taught in school.</p><p>In fact, <a href="http://www.argusleader.com/story/panderson/2015/01/27/science-bill/22434829/">critics said</a> the bill would have protected fundamentalist teachers who want to indoctrinate their students.</p><p>“It provides cover for, as you might say, rogue teachers,” said Glenn Branch, director of the National Center for Science Education. “We know most teachers won’t do this, but we know that there are some.”</p><p>It’s unfortunate that this issue is considered controversial in America. Evolution is settled science and should be taught without apology in our public schools. But as long as misguided lawmakers keep working to undermine the concept and water down instruction about it in schools, legislators will have a role to play.</p><p>If he’s serious about running for the White House, Scott Walker won’t be able to “punt on that one” forever. </p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/creationism-evolution">Creationism &amp; Evolution</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/scott-walker">Scott Walker</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/mitt-romney">Mitt Romney</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jon-hunstman">Jon Hunstman</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/discovery-institute">Discovery Institute</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/charles-darwin">Charles Darwin</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/darwin-day">Darwin Day</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/on-the-origin-of-species">On the Origin of Species</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/glenn-branch">Glenn Branch</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/national-center-for-science-and-education">National Center for Science and Education</a></span></div></div>Thu, 12 Feb 2015 18:13:21 +0000Simon Brown10884 at https://blog.au.orghttps://blog.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/wishy-washy-walker-wisc-governor-refuses-to-answer-question-on-evolution#commentsHats In The Ring: Early Questions For Presidential Contendershttps://blog.au.org/church-state/february-2015-church-state/perspective/hats-in-the-ring-early-questions-for
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Another column: another admission: At least once a day, I look at “The Drudge Report.” One thing Drudge does is slavishly follow the ins and outs of the potential presidential campaigns of Republicans and Democrats. </p><p>A lot is going on. As I write this, it looks like Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey are “in” for the Republicans, but U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) are “out.”</p><p>On the other side of the aisle, Hillary Clinton now has former White House chief of staff John Podesta on board, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is exploring the race and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is still maintaining an “I’m out” stance – although it is reported that she is getting positive reviews in focus groups. </p><p>I know – it’s only February of 2015. The election is still 22 months from now.</p><p>Still, I care about all this; the mainstream media does too. It is my hope that you can at least get up a modest interest in it. I’d like all candidates in major and minor parties to let us know with both honesty and specificity what they think about the issues under that beloved rubric of separation of church and state.</p><p>This column is not designed to systematically explain where all these possible candidates stand, in no small measure because so many of them have rarely had to address separation issues, much less vote on them as elected officials.</p><p>If candidates aren’t asked the right questions, they will be unlikely to develop those correct responses once elected. It’s hard enough holding elected officials to the promises they made during campaigns.</p><p>So what do we know? Here’s just a sample of actual comments and votes: On the Democratic side, both Warren and Sanders supported a bill to mute the effects of the Supreme Court’s <em>Hobby Lobby</em> ruling and the strange definition of religious liberty that decision created. </p><p>In addition, on the day of the ruling, Clinton was interviewed and said, “I disagree with the reasoning as well as the conclusion. It’s the first time that our court has said that a closely held corporation has the rights of a person when it comes to religious freedom.” She said the ruling could mean companies “can impose their religious beliefs on their employees” and end up “denying women contraception as part of their health care plan.” (See, if I were doing that interview, I’d follow-up with, “Should courts decide the sincerity of beliefs or are you saying that if we reverse <em>Hobby Lobby</em> we won’t have to get into that?”)</p><p>On the Republican short list, Paul and Cruz are sitting senators and did not vote to even take up the bill that would have addressed the <em>Hobby Lobby</em> decision.</p><p>Santorum was the author of a failed amendment to the No Child Left Behind Act in 2000 that would have stated that it was the “sense of the Senate” that “where biological evolution is taught, the curriculum should help students to understand why this subject generates so much continuing controversy.…” </p><p>When Paul was asked at a homeschool conference in a Kentucky church in 2010 how old the Earth is, he joked that he was only going to answer “easy” questions and that he “was going to have to pass on the age of the Earth.”</p><p>You may recall that during the 2012 Republican primary season, only Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman would cop to admitting belief in evolution.</p><p>The issue of whether government should subsidize churches and other religious institutions under “faith-based” initiatives is more complex. Some religious groups want tax support but still want to display religious icons and hire only people who will sign statements of faith.</p><p>When Clinton was running for Senate she stated her belief that, “There is no contradiction between support of faith-based programs and upholding our constitutional principles.” (Somebody should ask, “Would this mean that if you kept ‘faith-based offices’ in federal agencies, as existed at the time you were Secretary of State, that you would require that the best person be hired for any job in a federally funded program without regard to religious views?”)</p><p>We know that Bush was a huge fan of “faith-based” entities while leading Florida, even going so far as setting up a faith-based prison and establishing school voucher programs. </p><p>On the other hand, Paul noted back in 2008 that he opposed President George W. Bush’s faith-based initiative because, he said, “I think money sort of pollutes the mission of a purely Christian organization, or Muslim or whatever organization it is. And it obscures the church-state separation there really ought to be.”</p><p>Paul reiterated that conclusion at the same conference in which he passed on the age of the planet but with a much narrower critique: “The second that this church starts taking government money, they’re [the government] going to say you can’t say…things are sinful.”</p><p>Yes, it’s only February of 2015 – but it’s not too early to start asking questions of anyone who wants to be running the country come January 2017.</p><p> </p><p><em>Barry W. Lynn is executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. </em></p><p> </p><p> </p></div></div><a href="/about/people/barry-lynn-0">Barry Lynn</a><div class="field field-name-field-cs-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Perspective</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/creationism-evolution">Creationism &amp; Evolution</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/workplace-discrimination-exemptions-religious-practice">In the Workplace: Discrimination, Exemptions &amp; Religious Practice</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/outside-workplace-discrimination-exemptions-religious-practice-including-military-prisons">Outside the Workplace: Discrimination, Exemptions &amp; Religious Practice (including in the Military, Prisons, Housing, Healthcare, etc.)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-free-exercise-issues-including-rfras-zoning-etc">Other Free Exercise Issues (including RFRAs, zoning, etc.)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/reproductive-health-conscience-clauses-for-religious-objectors">Reproductive Health &amp; Conscience Clauses for Religious Objectors</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-issue field-type-node-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Magazine Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><article id="node-10837" class="node node-church-state-issue clearfix">
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<h2><a href="/church-state/february-2015-church-state">
The <span class="cs-month field">February</span> <span class="cs-year field"><span class="date-display-single">2015</span></span> issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em>
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</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/hobby-lobby">Hobby Lobby</a></span></div></div>Mon, 02 Feb 2015 15:45:00 +0000Timothy Ritz10843 at https://blog.au.orghttps://blog.au.org/church-state/february-2015-church-state/perspective/hats-in-the-ring-early-questions-for#commentsSelf-Centered: ‘Geocentrist’ Movie To Get Limited Theatrical Releasehttps://blog.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/self-centered-geocentrist-movie-to-get-limited-theatrical-release
<a href="/about/people/rob-boston">Rob Boston</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">The &quot;geocentrists&quot; -- who believe that Galileo was wrong and that the Earth really is the center of the universe -- are back. And they&#039;ve got a movie. </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Last April, <a href="https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/does-the-universe-revolve-around-you-geocentrist-creationists-seek-to">I wrote</a> about a bunch of cranks who believe that the Earth is the center of the universe. These so-called “geocentrists” are extreme Roman Catholics who believe that Copernicus and Galileo were wrong to promote the heliocentric model of the universe.</p><p>The geocentrists’ main argument seems to be that everything has to revolve around this planet because we’re special. God wouldn’t put us, the pinnacle of his creation, in some forgotten corner of the universe!</p><p>Somehow these zealots scraped up a pot of money and produced a fancy, CGI-laden “documentary” called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8cBvMCucTg">“The Principle,”</a> which in the spring of 2014 they claimed would appear in theaters soon.</p><p>The film didn’t appear, but the matter attracted some attention because “The Principle” is narrated by Kate Mulgrew, an actress who played Capt. Kathryn Janeway on “Star Trek: Voyager” and later appeared as Galina Reznikov on the popular Netflix series “Orange is the New Black.” The film also features interviews with actual scientists like Lawrence Krauss, Michio Kaku and others.</p><p>Mulgrew felt compelled to issue <a href="http://www.avclub.com/article/star-treks-kate-mulgrew-says-she-was-tricked-narra-203216">a statement</a> affirming her belief in the heliocentric universe, and Krauss and some of the other scientists said they had <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/04/08/lawrence_krauss_on_ending_up_in_the_geocentricism_documentary_the_principle.html">no idea</a> the documentary was about geocentrism when they were asked to take part.</p><p>I figured that was the end of it, but late last night I received a <a href="https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/01/06/695178/10114174/en/The-Principle-Challenges-Copernican-Theory-Beginning-January-23-In-Select-Theaters.html">press release</a> via email with big news: “The Principle” will play in “selected theaters” Jan. 23!</p><p>“The Principle,” asserts the press release, “will begin an exclusive limited engagement at AMC theaters in Burbank, CA, Orange, CA, and Spokane, WA, on January 23rd, with additional markets opening in the weeks following.” There will also be a screening for critics in Los Angeles Jan. 13.</p><p>The release goes on to say, “‘The Principle’ brings to light astonishing new scientific observations challenging the Copernican Principle. The film explores, from all sides, the question of Earth’s station in the universe and whether it could, in fact, have a unique importance. Astonishing results from recent large-scale surveys of our visible Universe disclose surprising evidence of a preferred direction in the cosmos, a so-called ‘Axis of Evil,’ aligned with our supposedly insignificant Earth.”</p><p>An Axis of Evil in space? Yikes! I hope it’s not the Klingons.</p><p>Just to be clear: The people behind “The Principle” are serious. This is not a parody, a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOO5S4vxi0o">“Spinal Tap”-style</a> “mockumentary” or some sort of hoax by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Abel">Alan Abel</a>. These people seriously believe, in the year 2015, that the Earth is the center of the universe.</p><p>The force behind all of this is a man named Robert Sungenis. He’s quite a piece of work. The author of a book titled <em><a href="http://galileowaswrong.blogspot.com/">Galileo Was Wrong: The Church Was Right</a></em>, Sungenis is angry because the heliocentric model has cast doubt on the authority of the church and its leaders. He has written, “Prior to Galileo, the church was in full command of the world, and governments and academia were subservient to her.” (According to the <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2006/winter/the-dirty-dozen">Southern Poverty Law Center</a>, Sungenis is also an anti-Semite who denies the Holocaust.)</p><p>I know it’s easy to make fun of stuff like this. I mean, these people are literally living in the Dark Ages. But we should never underestimate the power of pseudo-scientific loons who elevate religious fundamentalism over modern science. They have caused a lot of problems in the past.</p><p>Who would have thought creationism would have the staying power it has had? Who would have expected that the state of Kentucky would spend years deliberating giving $18 million in tax breaks to a biblical fundamentalist who wants to build a theme park based on the story of Noah’s Ark? Who would have expected that entire biology books would be published that never mention the word “evolution”?</p><p>The way things are going, with so many state legislatures in the grip of Tea Party forces and their pals in the Religious Right, I wouldn’t be surprised if some state lawmaker somewhere didn’t push for a “balanced treatment” law mandating equal time for the Earth-centered universe theory. Or perhaps “The Principle” could be shown in Louisiana’s public schools under that state’s <a href="http://ncse.com/files/08_la_sb733-amend.pdf">“Science Act,”</a> which allows “supplemental materials” in classrooms to promote “critical thinking.”</p><p>In short, never underestimate the power of slickly packaged propaganda. All it takes is a band of extremists with some money and a camera, and one teacher who has been brainwashed. And before you know it your kid’s science education has been set back about 400 years.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/creationism-evolution">Creationism &amp; Evolution</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/the-principle-kate-mulgrew">The Principle. Kate Mulgrew</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/lawrence-krauss">Lawrence Krauss</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/michio-kaku">Michio Kaku</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/robert-sungenis">Robert Sungenis</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/star-trek">star trek</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/klingons">Klingons</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/orange-is-the-new-black">Orange is the New Black</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/galileo">Galileo</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/geocentrism">geocentrism</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/alan-abel">Alan Abel</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/spinal-tap">Spinal Tap</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/creationism">creationism</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/evolution">evolution</a></span></div></div>Tue, 06 Jan 2015 15:59:11 +0000Rob Boston10802 at https://blog.au.orghttps://blog.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/self-centered-geocentrist-movie-to-get-limited-theatrical-release#commentsAround The World: Brazil Debates Creationism Billhttps://blog.au.org/church-state/january-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/around-the-world-brazil-debates-creationism-bill
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies is considering a bill that would mandate the teaching of creationism in public and private schools.</p><p>The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) reports that the bill was proposed by Pastor Marco Feliciano, a right-wing federal deputy and Assembly of God pastor who has made several controversial anti-gay comments.</p><p>The bill would require educators to inform students of “the ideas that life has its origin in God, the supreme creator of the whole universe and of all things that compose it.” A justification for the bill argues that schools have violated the Brazilian Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of conscience by neglecting to teach creationism.</p></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">AU Bulletin</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/creationism-evolution">Creationism &amp; Evolution</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-issue field-type-node-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Magazine Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><article id="node-10769" class="node node-church-state-issue clearfix">
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</div></div></div>Wed, 31 Dec 2014 20:00:00 +0000Timothy Ritz10796 at https://blog.au.orghttps://blog.au.org/church-state/january-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/around-the-world-brazil-debates-creationism-bill#commentsLate-Breaking News: Ky. Rejects ‘Ark Park’ Funding https://blog.au.org/church-state/january-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/late-breaking-news-ky-rejects-ark-park-funding
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>As this issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em> went to press, officials in Kentucky announced that they will not offer tax incentives to a controversial theme park proposed by the creationist ministry Answers in Genesis. The officials said giving tax aid to the evangelistic park would violate the separation of church and state.</p><p><strong>Look for more details in the February issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em>.</strong></p></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">AU Bulletin</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/creationism-evolution">Creationism &amp; Evolution</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/constructing-and-refurbishing-buildings-used-religious-activities">Constructing and Refurbishing Buildings Used for Religious Activities</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/tax-exemptions-churches-and-clergy">Tax Exemptions for Churches and Clergy</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-government-subsidies-religious-institutions-not-including-schools">Other Government Subsidies of Religious Institutions (not including schools)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/descriptions-and-activities-religious-right-groups">Descriptions and Activities of Religious Right Groups</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-issue field-type-node-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Magazine Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><article id="node-10769" class="node node-church-state-issue clearfix">
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The <span class="cs-month field">January</span> <span class="cs-year field"><span class="date-display-single">2015</span></span> issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/editorial/denial-of-service-same-sex-marriage-and-religious">Denial Of Service: Same-Sex Marriage And Religious Refusals</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/preaching-student-is-curbed-by-officials-in-wash">Preaching Student Is Curbed By Officials In Wash. </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/alaska-town-rejects-end-of-church-sales-tax">Alaska Town Rejects End of Church Sales Tax Exemption</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/ind-catholic-diocese-resists-court-jurisdiction">Ind. Catholic Diocese Resists Court Jurisdiction</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/ex-navy-chaplain-loses-legal-fight-over-dismissal">Ex-Navy Chaplain Loses Legal Fight Over Dismissal </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/md-school-district-secularizes-calendar">Md. School District Secularizes Calendar</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/people-events/texas-approves-pro-moses-social-studies-books">Texas Approves ‘Pro- Moses’ Social Studies Books Amid Controversy</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/people-events/new-au-legal-memo-debunks-religious-right">New AU Legal Memo Debunks Religious Right Claims On Same-Sex Marriage </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/people-events/sectarian-prayer-policy-resumes-in-nc-county">Sectarian Prayer Policy Resumes In N.C. County After High Court Ruling</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/people-events/au-chapter-leader-offers-secular-invocation">AU Chapter Leader Offers Secular Invocation Before El Paso Council</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/people-events/tenn-clergy-ramp-up-to-spearhead-big-push-for">Tenn. Clergy Ramp Up To Spearhead Big Push For Vouchers </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/people-events/state-officials-examine-ny-school-district-run">State Officials Examine N.Y. School District Run By Orthodox Jews</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/people-events/priests-for-life-vows-defiance-after-losing">Priests For Life Vows Defiance After Losing Birth Control Case </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/people-events/legal-challenge-to-clergy-housing-exemption">Legal Challenge To Clergy Housing Exemption Tossed By Appeals Court</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/people-events/au-opposes-slew-of-religious-freedom-bills">AU Opposes Slew Of ‘Religious Freedom’ Bills Appearing In States </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/people-events/ga-town-council-reverses-stand-on-zoning">Ga. Town Council Reverses Stand On Zoning Exemption For Muslims </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/january-2015-church-state/perspective/sympathy-for-the-devil-aus-role-in-fla-display">Sympathy For The Devil? AU&#039;s Role In Fla. Display Flap Sparks Hellish Reaction</a></span> </div></li>
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</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ark-park-0">&#039;Ark Park&#039;</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/answers-genesis">Answers in Genesis</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kentucky">kentucky</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ken-ham">Ken Ham</a></span></div></div>Wed, 31 Dec 2014 20:00:00 +0000Timothy Ritz10788 at https://blog.au.orghttps://blog.au.org/church-state/january-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/late-breaking-news-ky-rejects-ark-park-funding#commentsCreationist Canard: Judge Tosses Lawsuit That Claims Evolution Is A ‘Religious’ Viewpoint Unfit For Public Schoolshttps://blog.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/creationist-canard-judge-tosses-lawsuit-that-claims-evolution-is-a
<a href="/about/people/simon-brown">Simon Brown</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Evolution may be a theory but no legitimate scientists question its validity. Thus learning the facts of that theory is not &#039;indoctrination.&#039; It’s called education.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>It seems creationists are running out of ways to undermine evolution after a federal judge <a href="http://salinapost.com/2014/12/02/judge-dismisses-suit-over-kansas-science-standards/">tossed a lawsuit</a> that had sought to ban evolution from public school classrooms on the grounds that it promotes atheism.</p><p>This week, U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree said new science standards created by 26 states (including Kansas) and the National Research Council aren’t causing the group that filed <a href="http://www.copeinc.org/docs/legal-complaint.pdf">the lawsuit</a> enough harm for the case to move forward.</p><p>The curriculum, known as the <a href="http://www.nextgenscience.org/hsls-nse-natural-selection-evolution">Next Generation Science Standards</a>, teaches that “evolution primarily results from four factors: (1) the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment.”</p><p>There is no mention of God or creationism, meaning fundamentalists are not fans of the Next Generation standards.</p><p>The group that challenged these standards is a Kansas-based outfit called Citizens for Objective Public Education (COPE). You’ve probably never heard of them since they’ve only been around for a couple years, but I’m sure you won’t be surprised to discover that COPE is mainly interested in forcing religion into public schools. On its website, COPE says its “mission is to promote objectivity in public school curricula that address religious questions and issues so that the educational effect of the teaching is religiously neutral.”</p><p>That sounds nice, doesn’t it? Public schools should be neutral on religion, after all. The problem is COPE isn’t actually interested in objectivity or neutrality. It’s surely no coincidence that eight sets of parents who served as plaintiffs in the lawsuit were described as “Christian parents.” No other religious viewpoints appear to be involved with COPE in this case.</p><p>In its court filing, COPE argued that the science standards are “causing Kansas public schools to establish and endorse a non-theistic religious worldview…” in violation of the First Amendment.</p><p>COPE said the curriculum is coercing “impressionable children… into the religious sphere by leading them to ask ultimate questions like what is the cause and nature of life in the universe – ‘where do we come from?’”</p><p>COPE argued that these are “religious questions” and that the science curriculum is unconstitutionally indoctrinating students in a “materialistic/atheist” worldview, which is invalid because “science has not answered these religious questions…” about how life began.</p><p>Everything about that argument is flawed. Contemplating the origin of life on this planet is not an inherently religious question that is unfit for children to ponder. And science has done a fine job of unlocking the mysteries of the universe – despite COPE’s claim to the contrary. Evolution may be a theory but no legitimate scientists question its validity. Thus learning the facts of that theory is not “indoctrination.” It’s called education.</p><p>All of this<strong> </strong>is an old tactic that has been tried – and it has yet to succeed. It likely never will, since the U.S. Supreme Court <a href="http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1986/1986_85_1513/">settled this matter</a> nearly 30 years ago in<strong> </strong><em>Edwards v. Aguillard</em><em>.</em> In that case, the high court said creationism cannot be taught alongside evolution in public schools because creationism advances a specific religious viewpoint. </p><p>Since that is where we stand, what would COPE gain if its argument had succeeded? If creationism can’t be taught as fact in public schools and evolution were also considered “religious indoctrination,” that would leave science teachers with the option of presenting… nothing at all.</p><p>Clearly giving kids no information whatsoever about the origins of the universe is not the solution, but groups like COPE would rather students learn nothing than learn anything that runs counter to Religious Right dogma.</p><p>Creationism belongs in houses of worship and private homes. Sound science belongs in public schools. This issue was settled long ago and it’s good a federal judge recognized as much.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/creationism-evolution">Creationism &amp; Evolution</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/next-generation-science-standards">Next Generation Science Standards</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/citizens-for-objective-public-education">Citizens for Objective Public Education</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/us-district-judge-daniel-crabtree">U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/edwards-v-aguillard">Edwards v. Aguillard</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Location:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/our-work/grassroots/kansas">Kansas</a></span></div></div>Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:43:42 +0000Simon Brown10733 at https://blog.au.orghttps://blog.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/creationist-canard-judge-tosses-lawsuit-that-claims-evolution-is-a#commentsKy. Officials Finally Blink Over Public Aid To Creationist ‘Ark Park’ https://blog.au.org/church-state/december-2014-church-state/people-events/ky-officials-finally-blink-over-public-aid-to
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>After years of complaints by Americans United about Kentucky’s ongoing taxpayer assistance for a Christian fundamentalist theme park, it seems state officials may finally be having second thoughts about their involvement with the project.</p><p>AU learned in October that $18 million in tax incentives that had been preliminarily promised to Ark Encounter by the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Board are at risk thanks to discriminatory hiring practices by the Ark Park’s parent company, Answers in Genesis (AiG).</p><p>This positive development came thanks to a letter from Americans United. In August, AU informed the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority and Gov. Steve Beshear that AiG had posted online an opening for a computer-assisted design technician to work at Ark Encounter. That job post has since been removed, but in the August description, AiG said applicants must submit a “[c]reation belief statement,” as well as “[c]onfirmation of [their] agreement with the AiG Statement of Faith.”</p><p>That “statement of faith” required potential AiG employees to affirm their belief that homosexuality is a sin on par with bestiality and incest, that the earth is only 6,000 years old and that the Bible is literally true. It was clear that anyone who doesn’t agree with those statements wouldn’t be considered for the job.</p><p>In its letter, AU said “[A]rk Encounter’s ongoing religious discrimination violates terms to which it previously agreed in order to receive these tax incentives and…state-subsidized religious discrimination raises serious concerns under…the Kentucky Constitution.”</p><p>Just five days after AU’s complaint, Bob Stewart, secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, told AiG that the job posting raised “serious concerns” and “[t]he Commonwealth doesn’t believe that Ark Encounter, LLC will be complying with state and Federal law in its hiring practices.”</p><p>As a result, Stewart said, “We are not prepared to move forward with consideration of the application for final approval without the assurance of Ark Encounter, LLC that it will not discriminate in any way on the basis of religion in hiring.”</p><p>According to the Louisville <em>Courier-Journal</em>, which obtained Stewart’s correspondence with Ark Encounter, the park’s attorney, James Parsons, said the job in question was for AiG, not Ark Encounter. He insisted that his client will “comply with all applicable federal and state laws” on hiring.</p><p>The original posting has since been removed from AiG’s website, and a website for Ark Encounter states that “Staff for the Ark Encounter will be hired by the Ark Encounter LLC when construction is complete.” However, AU noted that in August the design technician position was advertised under the heading: “Answers in Genesis, Careers at Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum - CAD Technician Designer, Ark Encounter.” At the time, it was listed on AiG’s website.</p><p>In response to this potentially cost­ly development, AiG tried a desperate tactic, audaciously claiming it has a First Amendment right to state-provided tax breaks. Mike Zovath, co-founder of AiG and head of Ark Encounter, told Reuters he believes the state’s refusal to offer the tax rebate package would violate the organization’s First Amendment and state constitutional rights.</p><p>“We’re hoping the state takes a hard look at their position, and changes their position so it doesn’t go further than this,” Zovath said.</p><p>At press time, this situation was still developing. AU will provide further updates as they become available.</p></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">People &amp; Events</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/creationism-evolution">Creationism &amp; Evolution</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/constructing-and-refurbishing-buildings-used-religious-activities">Constructing and Refurbishing Buildings Used for Religious Activities</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-government-subsidies-religious-institutions-not-including-schools">Other Government Subsidies of Religious Institutions (not including schools)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/government-sponsored-religious-displays">Government-Sponsored Religious Displays</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-issue field-type-node-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Magazine Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><article id="node-10697" class="node node-church-state-issue clearfix">
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<h2><a href="/church-state/december-2014-church-state">
The <span class="cs-month field">December</span> <span class="cs-year field"><span class="date-display-single">2014</span></span> issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em>
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<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/december-2014-church-state/featured/poison-pens">Poison Pens</a></h3>
<h4>Americans United Letter Warning Against Pulpit Politicking Generates Angry Replies From Some Clergy</h4> </div>
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<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/december-2014-church-state/featured/world-of-trouble">World Of Trouble</a></h3>
<h4>A U.S.-Based Movement Seeks To Forge A Global Alliance For Faith, Family, And Fundamentalism</h4> </div>
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</div></div></div>Mon, 01 Dec 2014 18:59:50 +0000Timothy Ritz10712 at https://blog.au.orghttps://blog.au.org/church-state/december-2014-church-state/people-events/ky-officials-finally-blink-over-public-aid-to#commentsAmericans United Welcomes Okla. School District’s Decision To Drop Biased Bible Curriculumhttps://blog.au.org/media/press-releases/americans-united-welcomes-okla-school-district-s-decision-to-drop-biased-bible
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; margin: 0px;"><p>An Oklahoma school district has decided not to implement a Bible curriculum designed by Steve Green, owner of the Hobby Lobby chain of craft stores, that critics said was biased in favor of fundamentalist Christianity.<br /><br />Earlier this year, Americans United warned Mustang Public Schools officials that the curriculum was problematic and its use in schools might spark litigation.<br /><br />“Education officials in Mustang did the wise thing,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Objective study about religion in public schools is permissible, but this curriculum was essentially an extended Sunday School lesson.”<br /><br />Green seemed to have little interest in objective instruction. He argued that the course was designed to demonstrate “the reliability of [the Bible],” because he believes that “the evidence is overwhelming.”<br /><br />In addition, Green has publicly stated that the class would teach the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, which undermines his claim that it would have been taught from an objective standpoint.<br /><br />Yesterday attorneys with Americans United, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a joint freedom-of-information request with the Mustang schools, requesting various documents relating to the school board’s involvement with the curriculum. In response, the groups received an email from Superintendent Sean McDaniel reporting that the class has been cancelled.<br /><br />“In summary, the topic of a Bible course in the Mustang School District is no longer a discussion item nor is there a plan to provide such a course in the foreseeable future,” McDaniel wrote. “All students who were pre-enrolled in the elective had their schedules changed to a Humanities course or they were afforded the opportunity to select another elective.”<br /><br />McDaniel added that the district was supposed to have had an opportunity to review the final curriculum, but this did not happen. He also noted that the district had requested that Hobby Lobby agree to pay its legal expenses in the event of a lawsuit. Green refused, so the district decided to drop the proposed class.</p><p>Ayesha N. Khan, legal director for Americans United, said the district made the right call.<br /><br />“There is a right way and wrong way to teach about the Bible and other religious texts in public schools,” Khan said. “The Hobby Lobby curriculum is an example of the wrong way. Education officials in Mustang have saved themselves many headaches by backing out of this ill-conceived plan.”<br /> </p></div><p> </p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/creationism-evolution">Creationism &amp; Evolution</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/bibles-and-religious-texts-curricula">Bibles and Religious Texts in Curricula</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/hobby-lobby">Hobby Lobby</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/steve-green">Steve Green</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/aclu">ACLU</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/freedom-religion-foundation">Freedom From Religion Foundation</a></span></div></div><h3 >Church-State Watchdog Group Had Warned That Planned Elective Class Backed By Hobby Lobby Owner Violates U.S.&nbsp;Constitution</h3>Tue, 25 Nov 2014 18:04:40 +0000Timothy Ritz10691 at https://blog.au.orghttps://blog.au.org/media/press-releases/americans-united-welcomes-okla-school-district-s-decision-to-drop-biased-bible#comments